By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Tribune OnlineTribune OnlineTribune Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Columns
  • Editorial
  • VIDEOS
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Opinions
  • SPORTING TRIBUNE
Reading: This trial of Brother Oloyede
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Tribune OnlineTribune Online
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Columns
  • Editorial
  • VIDEOS
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Opinions
  • SPORTING TRIBUNE
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Advertise
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2025 African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc.. All Rights Reserved.
VIEWS

This trial of Brother Oloyede

Tunde Akanni
May 17, 2025
Share
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Governor Monday Okpebholo Nigeria’s industrial relations system Yakubu's legacy traditional and new media political assistants Diaspora hometown associations Igbo funerals Still on young women Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa Rashidi Ladoja as Olubadan Police harassment of Nigerian youth National Assembly members Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Gender-inclusive cough syrup abuse Justice Ezekiel Oyeyemi Ajayi God-complex Nigerian youth Nigerian Shippers’ Council Menace of cultism in Nigeria Kaduna Peace model AI stories Tinubu’s tax laws the opposition Ogbonna Igbojianu education through outreach years of Goodluck Jonathan Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Sunday Echono on Tertiary Education Nigerian men politician in Nigeria Sokoto flood surrogacy in Nigeria access to higher education ADC in Nigeria Olawande on Nigerian youth foreign policy of Nigeria high tariffs The Ministry of Information Aliko Dangote example Tribute to Dr. Omololu Olunloyo Birthday cheers to Governor Adeleke, Gov Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, The JAMB 6:30 a.m. Unjust treatment of HND holders
SHARE

It’s been traumatic for my entire family since that video started making the rounds. I sneaked a slight view… It’s our trial. It’s my trial. Oloyede is genuine. He is most sincere. He is modestly so as well. For us, however, Allah knows best.

I was with a trader in the afternoon of what I considered a dark Wednesday, the 14th of May 2025. “Se bi won ni JAMB o get mo bayi…”. I had to cut in immediately. Which JAMB? “Madam, that’s one person I will vouch, and vouch for…zero tolerance for corruption. Absolutely responsible with a high level of consciousness for the good of others. If certain things went wrong at JAMB, I agree it’s his responsibility to carry all pleasant and other burdens but just know that the bad side of the operations may as well be sabotage. I have absolute trust in that man. Ask my own colleagues about me, but Oloyede is my own hero, somebody I have known for more than 40 years…”

This is by no means a reductionist disposition to the tragedy induced by  the so called computer glitch. May the Almighty God in His infinite mercy console the parents of the candidate reported to have committed suicide. May God strengthen them to survive this gloomy phase of their lives and sustain them to reap bounteous compensation that will endure in their lives. It’s hard, so hard to  pull tragedies of this magnitude. I personally feel for these parents. 

Read Also: FAAC: FG, States, LGs share N1.681trn April 2025 revenue

The said computer glitch thing, may we never fall victim of it. Those who work for big organisations requiring large layout of ICT operations know what I’m talking about.  Rather than being solutionist, IT facilities can be unimaginably problematic sometimes, yet indispensable in this civilizational dispensation.  This is not doubting deliberate sabotage as may have happened in the case of JAMB. I’ve been part of the Oloyede’s JAMB journey to attest to his commitment to offer his best for the otherwise sinking board.

Far from being cosmetically exhibitionist, the Oloyede-led JAMB team led the Education Minister, Tunji Alausa, round the critical facilities of JAMB during the just concluded examination. Alausa saw firsthand, like never before elsewhere in this country, how far JAMB had gone in its strive for transparency and real time monitoring of the conduct of examinations nationwide. Alausa, beyond being in awe sought to make the JAMB effect spread immediately to other examination bodies. 

No be dem say, same day, the WAEC team came to JAMB and made it into the situation room which was my own duty post. The NECO team followed suit afterwards, both duly led around by the sturdy lead IT consultant who’s been reliably there from Oloyede’s assumption of duty, Damilola Bamiro. Far richer, given that they charge more for their exams, the duo of WAEC and NECO were suddenly mandated to understudy the exam sector leader in Africa that JAMB has become over time.

The staff of both WAEC and NECO suddenly had to undertake a professional excursion led through all the real time monitoring screens and other digital facilities.  It was obvious they marveled at what they saw revealing functional leader-subordinate synergy manifest with trendy output that the world can see and learn from.

But that may even seem the tip of the iceberg of the output of the hardwork and commitment of the nation’s foremost icon of integrity in public service.  Series of far more seemingly serious strides had  been accomplished by Oloyede at JAMB. As a focused scholar, he keeps ensuring that every bit of the experience of the Board is treasured as worthy data to guide future actions and even subjects for further research.  

Not even the agencies dedicated to emergency matters in Nigeria could have been as prompt as the Oloyede management on this ugly glitch saga. Once the complainants began ventilating into the public space, JAMB rose to the challenge without any predictably traditional arrogant stance of government is always right. I was aware that a particularly strident public critic and a former  Students leader at Obafemi Awolowo University, Adeola Soetan commended the spokesperson for JAMB for excellent handling of public complaints.

Promptly, an independent team of investigators was set up to unravel the mystery leading to the rather depressing situation that now confronts us.  The team, drawn from assorted but technically relevant constituencies, has found out that no fewer than 165 centres of over 800  exam centres nationwide were affected. 

Obviously well prepared for whatever the outcome may turn out to be, he braced up to the challenge to embrace the surrender value to tell it to the world as it is.  This trial is for all of us who believe and trust Oloyede. I am incrovertibly in this group. So much so that  his public cry infected me…It was a patriot’s cry for his beloved country.  Like me, a former Law don at LASU, Dr Kilani wasn’t any less affected as demonstrated in a quick note to me: I wite to associate myself with the pain, sorrow and emotion of our own Professor Oloyede. I could not hold my tears seeing him cry. May Almighty Allah see him through. May we all not be put to shame…”

But then came a soothing message from Gbade Osunsoko, my cousin: “…He will come out of this much stronger because Nigerians will trust him far better than a number of our leaders..  A man that mistakes happen under him and takes responsibility-it’s a big deal in Nigeria”

With Oloyede, young Nigerians with challenges regarding sight are no longer left to moan their fate endlessly with adequate provision for their inclusion in the UTME. How many of our public facilities are this inclusion conscious as stipulated by SDGs?   

How come a legacy built through almost a decade at the very best cost ever possible will be made to crumble when the game changer leader yet remains ever modest? JAMB has steadily risen through thick and thin to accomplish her tasks to the admiration of stakeholders nationally and internationally under Oloyede.  Both NNPC and the Nigeria Police, being beneficiaries, can attest to the current competence of JAMB. How much more of other numerous stakeholders nationwide never deemed to have any relevance to JAMB before Oloyede but have since become critical, if not indispensable players?

But why this sudden saddening encounter threatening our joy of service without blemish? Why this unforeseen truncation of a good story, so intentional, coming from Africa? Whodunnit? Surely the truth shall come out for the world to perceive and assess and get to appreciate the efforts and the quantum of commitment appropriated to the JAMB excellence project driven by Oloyede.

One cannot but be deeply concerned.  Before the very eyes of a few of us carefully selected to give support from our respective professional perspectives from the very beginning, Professor Oloyede’s concern for genuine growth and development was real.  It is still reall and ind increasingly so, as a matter of fact. Indeed, inimitable. It shall be well.

Tunde Akanni, PhD, is a Professor of Journalism and Development Communications at the Lagos State University, LASU.


WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV

  • Back to School, Back to Business A Fresh Start

  • Relationship Hangout: Public vs Private Proposals – Which Truly Wins in Love?

  • “No” Is a Complete Sentence: Why You Should Stop Feeling Guilty

  • Relationship Hangout: Friendship Talk 2025 – How to Be a Good Friend & Big Questions on Friendship

  • Police Overpower Armed Robbers in Ibadan After Fierce Struggle


    Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more.
    Join our WhatsApp Channel now


TAGGED:JAMBOloyede
Share This Article
Facebook Email Print
Previous Article Brazilian woman arrested Brazilian woman arrested for ‘slicing husband’s pen!s, cooking it in stew’
Next Article What are gall stones?

Frontpage Today

Subscribe to e-Paper

E-Vending, e paper, pdf, e-paper, Tribune
WOMEN

Xquisite
Xquisite Food
Xquisite Style
Wondrous World of Women

MORE

Business Coach
Education
Event Digest
Crime & Court
Do It Yourself
Ecoscope
Property & Environment
Energy
Maritime
Aviation
Brands & Marketing
Agriculture
Info Tech
Labour
Leadership & Management
Achievers
Arewa Live
Arts & Culture
Arts & Reviews
Campus Beat
Politics
Health News
MORE

Mum & Child
Natural Health
Sexuality & Health
Special Report
Sports
Tourism
Travelpulse & MICE
Tribune Business
Weekend Lagos
Youth Speak
Book Review
Thursday Tales
EDITORIAL

Editorial
Opinion
Letters
News Extra

BUSINESS

Capital Market
Money Market
Economy

ENTERTAINMENT

Friday Treat
Entertainment
Razzmattaz

REGIONS

South West
Niger Delta
Arewa

RELIGION

Tribune Church
Church News
Muslim Sermon
Eye of Islam
Islamic News

COLUMNS

Anike's Diary
Aplomb
Ask The Doctor
Autoclinic With The Mechanic
Awo's Thought
Borderless
Crucial Moment
Empowered For Life
Festus Adebayo's Flickers
Financewise
Gibbers
Intimacy
Language & Style
Leaders' Forum
Leadership & Management
Lynx Eye
Monday Lines
Mum & Child
Natural Health
Notes from Atlanta with Farooq Kperogi
On The Lord's Day
PENtagon
Political Panorama
Veritatem With Obadiah Mailafia
Voice of Courage
Whatsapp Conversation
You and Eye
Your Life Counts

© 2025 African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?